Essential Questions to Ask When Hiring an Interior Designer
August 15, 2022
Hiring an interior designer is not just about selecting furniture and picking paint colours. It’s also about finding someone who will listen to your needs, create a vision for your space, and help you achieve that vision. The process of working with an interior designer can be very exciting—but it’s also daunting. There are so many decisions to make! That’s why we asked some experts in their field what questions they would ask before hiring an interior designer:
1. What does the process look like?
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What does the process look like?
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How long will it take to complete?
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How many meetings do you expect me to have with the designer?
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Should I be involved in every step of the process, or should we make a date once per month or week to meet?
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Do you think this project will require many more meetings than usual due to its complexity and/or because I am new to interior design (e.g., if it’s my first time redecorating)? Will that create any issues for either of us or for finishing on time? If so, what can we do about it?
2. When would you begin working on our project?
When would you begin working on our project?
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When would you finish working on our project?
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How long does it take to complete a project?
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How many projects are in progress at any given time, and how many usually have been recently completed?
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How many years have you been in business?
3. How do you style a space that works for my needs, including furniture and décor?
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How do you know what works for your client? Do they have a specific style or aesthetic in mind? Do they need help defining their style, or are they open to letting you be the guide?
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How do you know what the client wants? Some clients have very clear ideas about what they want their space to look like, and others will need guidance from an interior designer. The key question here is whether or not the client is open to changing their mind along the way. If there’s no room for flexibility, finding another designer who can work with your needs may be better.
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How do you know how much this project will cost me (the client)? While some designers offer a fixed price for any number of hours worked on a project, others bill hourly rates for services rendered—which means some clients will pay less than others if their projects take longer than expected. Ask beforehand which pricing applies to this particular project, so there aren’t any surprises down the road!
4. What type of timeline will I be expected to follow?
Asking this question is essential because it will help you figure out how long your project will take. It’s important to know this before you start to ensure that you have enough time in your schedule to complete everything on time. You don’t want to be left without a kitchen or bathroom after closing on a house!
You should also ask about the timeline for each step in the process. How long will it take for them to get started designing? How long until they send over a proposal? And how long do they estimate it’ll take until they’re done with those designs and ready for implementation?
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